REDDITCH UNITED 1 (0) Weston-Super-Mare 0 (0)

The Reds notched up their third successive home victory with a much improved performance against Western division high-flyers Weston.

Redditch, smarting from the 6-1 mauling by Worcester City just five days earlier, handed the early initiative to the visitors with a very cautious opening.

Weston could have taken the lead in the sixth minute when Lee Rogers broke from defending a corner to carry the ball deep into the Reds' half.

His attempted long-range effort was blocked and fell invitingly for Lee Relish but he struck his 15-yard effort straight at keeper Dave Adey.

Chances were hard to come by, but Weston again got behind the Redditch defence after they failed to clear the ball.

Relish turned provider crossing from the left, but Justin Pritchard wasted the opportunity, planting his free header well wide of the goal.

Adey was called into action four minutes before the break finger-tipping Rogers' 25-yard pile driver over the bar.

Redditch came out stronger in the second half and began to threaten a Weston defence which had only conceded three goals in eight away league games.

Mark Smith fired a warning on 55 minutes when a fine three-man move between Ross Knight, Richard Field and Jamie Hart played in Smith to volley narrowly wide.

Weston failed to heed the warning as two minutes later they fell behind to Nicky Cross' fifth goal of the season.

The veteran striker picked up the ball from Paul Danks' header on from Ross Knight's throw in, held off the attention of a defender to fire home from the edge of the box, with the help of the post.

Redditch went close again eight minutes later with Cross putting the ball across the goalmouth but no Reds players were there to capitalise.

They were almost made to pay as Weston launched a wave of attacks but the visitors were thwarted as Redditch stood firm.

Weston did go close with 15 minutes remaining after Redditch gave away a needless corner. Relish whipped it in and Rogers got on the end of it, heading it back across goal but Reds managed to clear the danger.

In the dying minutes Danks had two opportunities to wrap up the points but on both occasions his faint touch was unable to beat Weston keeper David Mogg.

Redditch could have been left counting the cost of these misses when Pritchard was left in space on the edge of the box in injury time, but like his header, he struck his effort wide.

Redditch: Adey, Knight, M Smith, Molloy, Manton, Mulders, Field, Williams, Cross, Hart (Dearlove 66), Danks. Subs unused - Sutton, Randall.

Attendance: 205

Man of the match: Molloy